Jesus at the Cross — Mark 15

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The Darkness Before the Cross — Mark 14

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Jesus on Living in Light of the End Times — Mark 13

Jesus Changes the Question (v. 4, 9ff)

Sometimes (in my more self-centered moments) I think the disciples were there only to ask the questions I would have asked, so that Jesus could direct me to the questions I should ask.  The disciples wanted to know “When will these things happen (v. 4)?”  They wanted to know when the end times would begin; when the new kingdom would be established.

Jesus gently directs them to a better question, “How should we live since this world and these political-economic realities will come to and end?”  Without condemning their thirst for information, Jesus directs their attention away from their curiosities (over which they had no control or impact) to the things they could impact for His kingdom.

We need to heed this same attention re-focusing.  In light of what we know about temporal life and eternal life, how should we be living now?  We so often get lost in the trivia and prognostication of things we have no control over.  Jesus teaching in Mark 13 can be summarized as do not worry about what you might do or say when something bad happens, invest your thoughts and energy in what God has given you control over and God will prepare/enable you for later moments later (see v. 11).

A Prerequisite to the Second Coming (v. 10)

There is one way (if any) to expedite the second coming of Christ.  Contribute to the gospel being preached to all nations.  This is a resounding theme of the Bible and about the return of Christ (Rev 7:9).

If we long for Christ’s return, if we long to taste heaven, if we long to see God’s will on earth as it is in heaven; then we must be sharing the gospel regularly and we must be contributing (prayer, time, and money) to the spread of the gospel to the ends of the earth.

As you examine yourself in this area, consider the following questions:

1. Can you summarize the gospel in a few, short, clear sentences?
2. If you cannot summarize the content of the gospel, are you sure you are a born again Christian?
3. Do you know how your church participates in and supports missions work to unreached people groups?

Keep Watch
(Click Here for Printable PDF Handout)

These two simple words (“Keep watch”) capture the main point of Jesus’ teaching on the end times in Mark 13.  The application Jesus gives of keeping watch is not primarily upon discerning events leading up to his second coming, but rather on living for his return in faith that he is coming.

It is easy for an employee to slack off when the boss is away (13:32-37).  Jesus promises he will come and (like a surprise visit from a boss) says his followers should be working and with evidence of their work.

Use the following questions to evaluate your “watchfulness” in light of Christ’s second coming using the boss-worker metaphor Jesus gave in Mark 13.

• How often do I read my Bible to understand more clearly what my Lord has assigned me to do and how he will evaluate my life upon his return (Bible study)?
• How often do I pray to talk about my progress and delays, get additional work instruction or insights, and clarify what I have read in his instructions (prayer)?
• Am I excited about the project I have been given and use gratitude as a way to maintain my level of motivation during tedious work (worship)?
• Do I stay well-connected with my co-workers and do we mutually stay on task to ensure our work is well coordinated and efficient (fellowship and accountability)?
• Do I naturally and actively talk about the work I am privileged to be a part of and invite others to join the effort (evangelism)?
• Do I manage my major resources of time, money, property, talents, and relationships around the job I have been entrusted (stewardship)?
• Am I seeking the wisdom of those who have been the job longer to assist me in doing my job with increasing excellence (discipleship and mentoring)?
• Am I looking for those new to the job and seeking to help them learn from my mistakes to advance the project as efficiently as possible (teaching)?
• Am I resting in the fairness and wisdom of my boss as I work knowing that his plans and methods are best whether I see the whole picture or not (rest and trust)?

Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
TOOL: “Using Prayer Time to Cultivate Ministry”
BLOG: “Teachers Equipping Ministers Through Prayer Time“

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Taxes and Love — Mark 12

Church and State (v. 17)

Jesus was (and is) a master of catching deceitful people in their own traps (Galatians 6:7).  But this answer does much more than reveal Jesus’ clever use of rhetoric.  It is a foundational statement regarding the role of the sacred and civil (see also Romans 13:-17; I Timothy 2:1-6; Titus 3:1-2; and 2 Peter 2:13-17).

Civil authority plays (or at least should play) a role of common grace in society.  Government should punish those who violate others and create a setting where those who honor others have opportunity to succeed.

Caesar was doing this quite imperfectly.  The Jews longed for a political/military Messiah to undo this oppression.  However, even in this context, Jesus responds, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

Reflection One: How does government (marked by the fall and human greed/error) still serve as a conduit of God’s common grace?  Do you regularly thank God for the structures of society that allow for relative order, peace, predictability, and planning?

Reflection Two: We tend to closely align our lives to government expectations (i.e., laws, taxes, holidays, etc…).   This is “giving Caesar what is Caesar’s.”  Do you also manage your life equally in keeping with God’s expectations (i.e., values regarding morals, relationships, money, rest, etc…)?  This contrast can also be understood in terms of the “Fear/Trust of Man” versus the “Fear/Trust of the Lord.”   See Jeremiah 17:5-10 for more on this contrast.

Two Commands or Three?
(Click Here for Printable PDF Handout)

A big question in our day is whether you have to love yourself before you can love anyone else, or whether we all naturally do what we believe will make us happy and should treat others the same way.  As you look at Mark 12:29-31 (and the corresponding Matthew 22:37-40), consider the following question – How many commands does Jesus say there are?  Two

But what do we do to make of “as yourself”?  If we flip the commands to mean we have to love self before we can love neighbor (command three before two), we would also have to say we must love neighbor before we can love God (command two before our added third command).  This does not seem right.

We begin with a recognition that we can only love (at all; anyone) because God first loved us (I John 4:19).  Love is naturally focused outside itself (Philippians 2:1-11) and we are naturally self-centered.  You have to teach a child to say “please” and “thank you” not “no” and “mine.”

Then we look at another use of a similar phrase in Ephesians 5:28, “Husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies.”  It is not very romantic to love your wife after loving yourself.  That hardly seems in keeping with the sacrificial tone of Ephesians 5.

Finally, we look at a passage like 2 Timothy 3:2 where Paul says that the first mark of people in the last days will be that they “will be lovers of themselves.”  As the first item on the list this defines all the other items in the same way that love marks all of the fruit of the Spirit.

From this we can conclude, Jesus assumes we naturally do what we think will make us happy.  The problem then is that we are more likely foolish or deceived rather than lacking self-love.  Our actions may in fact be to our detriment.  This may emerge from what we believe about ourselves, others, and God.  The solution, however, is to seek wisdom and clarity so that our actions (which we believe to be in our best interest) will actually bless us.  Without this wisdom and clarity our ability to love God and neighbor will be severely hampered.

A Sincere Man in Hostile Times (v. 34)

Jesus’ words here are quite remarkable.  The content of His words were simple enough.  He could tell from a brief conversation with this questioner that he was “not far from the kingdom of God.”  It is not the content but the context that is amazing.

Jesus was in the midst of being assaulted by a series of verbal traps.  The Pharisees tried (v. 13-17).  Then the Sadducees tried (v. 18-27).  In the same dialogue this teacher walks up and asks “another” question.  However, Jesus responded to the question and the questioner independent from the context.

Reflection Questions:  When have you recently lumped one question/circumstance in with its neighboring questions/circumstances?  When are you most prone to do this?  With whom are you most prone to do this?  Pray that you will be more Christ-like in your ability to treat each moment, circumstance, and person on its own merit.

Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
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BLOG: “Teachers Equipping Ministers Through Prayer Time“

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First, Last, Last, First — Mark 10

Children as Model (v. 13-15)

The next several sections of Mark 10 build from this story of Jesus and the children.  Jesus interacts with the Rich Young Man and the request of James and John from the principle, “For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these [children]. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Reflection: Are you willing to come to God empty handed and with an open heart?  That is the nature of a child.  The children did not have anything to offer Jesus and asked nothing from Him other than love.  Our insecurity and anxiety are rooted in thinking we must have something to offer.  Our pride and anger are rooted in thinking we can demand particular blessings (of our choosing) from God.

Christian maturity is not relating to God as an adult, but continually relating to God as a child while our adult understanding of God’s character grows.  Adults use knowledge as power – trying to figure God out (control).  Children trust and revel in the relationship.

Disciples Called “Children” (v. 24)

It is very easy to listen to this remark from Jesus and think he is being harsh and condescending.  When we address adults as “children” we are usually insulting them.  However, Jesus is drawing their attention away from the hard command given to the Rich Young Man and back to his statement that the kingdom of God belongs to those with child-like faith.

The Rich Young Man was seeking to please God (“What must I do?”).  The dialogue that followed overwhelmed the disciples. They were desperately thinking “Who then can be saved!”  Jesus says, “Children.”  Those who come to God empty handed and with an open heart.  In order for the Rich Young Man to achieve this empty-handedness he would have had to sell everything.  The focus was not on giving (huge sacrifice), but on humility (not thinking I can offer God something other than my life).

It may be most helpful to think of your service to God as Christmas presents your young children buy you.  They buy the presents with your money, so they really are not giving you anything.  But you love to receive it and see the joy it brings them to give it to you.  The reward it not in their gift but in their giving.

May We Be Great?
(Click Here for Printable PDF Handout)

After seeing Jesus receive the little children and hearing what he said (Mark 10:14-15); after hearing the culmination of Jesus’ interaction with the Rich Young Man (Mark 10:31); after hearing Jesus predict his torture and death (Mark 10:33-34) – James and John still ask to sit at Jesus’ right and left in glory (Mark 10:37).

What do we learn from this?  Jesus is patient and we don’t get it.  Jesus returns to the over-arching lessons of this chapter (Mark 10:42-25) – the first will be last, the last will be first, child-likeness is out goal, wealth easily distracts us, and leaders are servants.  Jesus knew this concept was so counter to our (sinful) nature that we would need to hear it many times in many ways.

Do you truly believe that greatness is found in service?  Do not answer the question quickly.  Consider these questions to help you discern you heart.

• How well do you handle having to repeat instructions?
• Are you easily embarrassed?
• Do you passively leave unpleasant responsibilities for others?
• How do you treat others when you are tired?
• Do you notice the burdens of others?
• Are you able to empathize with the struggles of others?
• How do you respond to those who are weak in your area of strength?
• What have you done without recently for the benefit of another?
• Do you notice and praise those who serve in front of your kids?
• Are you still content if your service goes unnoticed?

Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
TOOL: “Using Prayer Time to Cultivate Ministry”
BLOG: “Teachers Equipping Ministers Through Prayer Time“

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Living in a “Love Me First” World — Mark 9

Neither High nor Low Self-Esteem (v. 35)

You can only see what your questions allow to be revealed.  If you ask bad questions, then you will never even consider good answers.  In our day and age there is a strong tendency to read this passage and debate self-esteem.  However, I believe this would miss the point entirely.  To borrow from the opening line of Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life, “It’s not about us.”

Jesus asks, “If anyone wants to be first,” implying this is not a bad desire.  Greatness is not a sinful pursuit.  It is the definition of greatness that makes it holy or evil; a blessing or a curse.  Jesus says the blessed definition of greatness is servanthood.  The less self-preoccupied we become, the more free we are to experience/express the love, joy, and peace that God has for us because our focus has returned to what it was always meant to be.

Reflection: When you hear the concept of self-forgetfulness as the door to true, lasting happiness, what fears or cautions come to mind?  How is this concept different from many notions of self-esteem (pride, vanity, competition) and forced humility (negative, self-critical, unable to receive complements)?

Whoever Is Not Against Us (v. 40)

After Jesus spoke of welcoming others in his name, the disciples asked about a “competing” teacher, “Do you want us to welcome him too (v. 38 paraphrased)?”  Jesus answer (again paraphrased), “There should be no competition between messengers but only between messages (see also Philippians 1:15-18).”

Reflection:  What are the key beliefs that comprise true Christianity?  In our day of denominations and non-denominations what would be the essential beliefs and practices that Jesus would consider “in my name (v. 41)”?  Is it your tendency to be too combative or uninformed on these types of questions?

Practice:  When you are studying Scripture and forming beliefs divide your beliefs not only by topic (salvation, Jesus, church, etc…) but also by importance.  I would advise the following four categories of importance:

1. Highest: Those beliefs essential to being a Christian and inheriting eternal
2. Second: Those beliefs which should be agreed upon in order to have harmonious fellowship in the same church.
3. Third:  Those beliefs which one should seek to have personal convictions on, but should not divide fellowship.life.  What are those matters which are a matter of heaven and hell if one is right or wrong?
4. Fourth:  Those beliefs which are unclear and can only be considered using inference or implication.

A Radical Refocusing
(Click Here for Printable PDF Handout)

In the Gospel of Mark Jesus approaches the discussion of the “radical amputation of sin (9:43-47) flowing from a discussion of unity amongst believers.  The transition thought is, “Who is our true enemy?”

A.  Those with whom we disagree (9:38)
B.  Those whose ministry rivals our own (9:33)
C.  Those who receive privileged status (9:2)
D.  The sin that interferes with God’s kingdom in us (9:47)

Jesus refocuses the disciples’ attention to answer D.  Jesus is harnessing the competitive energies the disciples were unleashing on one another and strangers to the “enemy within.”  Hence he concludes, “Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other (v. 50).”

Ask yourself the following questions:

• What do I approach most passionately or aggressively?
• What does the intensity of this pursuit reveal about me?
• What methods of preparation do I use in this pursuit?
• How did those methods of preparation develop?
• What skills have I learned and mastered in this pursuit?
• How long did this process take?
• What made the effort worth it to me?

Take those answers and now apply them to the areas of sin that you most commonly struggle with.  Allow God to redirect your natural passions and interests (not to imply they are wrong) to inform, illuminate, and motivate your battle with sin.

Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
TOOL: “Using Prayer Time to Cultivate Ministry”
BLOG: “Teachers Equipping Ministers Through Prayer Time“

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Somebody’s, Nobody’s, But the Same Jesus — Mark 5

Reverse Uncontamination (v. 29)

The entire mindset of the Jewish culture was to avoid contamination.  You had to know what was clean versus unclean so that the unclean things could be avoided.  Life was much more like dodge ball than freeze tag (the variety I played as a child everyone who was not it could “unfreeze” the frozen by touching them – I acknowledge the legitimacy of the dozens of other varieties of freeze tag).

Recognizing the world-view of those surrounding Jesus makes this event all the more amazing.  It is not “just” that Jesus healed her.  Jesus made her clean rather than her making him unclean.  That is the equivalent of dropping an apple up.

Jesus has this tendency of breaking the rules – not the moral ones; but the rules of expectation, nature, social structure, and sin.  This is the incarnation.  Jesus enters the “rules” of our world and frees us from them.  No longer are we bound to food regulations, ceremonial cleanness, racial divides, superstition, rituals, or sacred occasions.

Reflection Question:  What fears or cautions immediately come to mind as you read these thoughts?  What appropriate limitations need to be put on these statements?  How have statements like these been abused?  Transition:  How would your life be different if you properly applied these statements?  What non-moral laws do you live by that limit your ability to serve God?  What traditions (your personal history) were those non-moral laws built on?  How does the life and teaching of Christ “reverse uncontaminated” those non-moral laws?

Amazing Honesty
(Click Here for Printable PDF Handout)

I believe we often miss something about this unnamed woman – she was honest.  She had broken several major social rules.  She was being called out in the midst of an overwhelming crowd.  She had suffered long and was just tasting relief.  And Jesus shocks everyone by saying “Who touched me (v. 31)?”

In the midst of this, although she was trembling with fear, she “told him the whole truth (v. 33).”  Wow!  Amazing faith!  In the face of a guilty conscience, public pressure/embarrassment, and justifiable reasons for her actions, she chose honesty over silence and complete truth over selective-revised history.  Let us all be humbled.

Consider the following statements as you seek to be a person of total truth.

• It is wrong to say you can protect someone from the truth.
• Lying is playing God, because you are trying to write (or rewrite) history.
• Lies cast shadows upon your true statements so all communication is defiled.
• Lying means that we believe something is more valuable than Christ-likeness.
• We are only free (emotionally and relationally) when we are honest.
• Redemption cannot occur where sin is not confessed.
• To lie is to live in fear and become addicted to the power of lying.
• When we lie we know we are false and have a hard time receiving the love of others.
• Secrets perpetuate our sinful patterns.
• Secrets create a climate in which vulnerability seems foolish.
• Hiding sin is a violation of James 5:16.

Closing Thought: “God is not limited by our weakness and failure. God is limited by our dishonesty.”  May we glorify God with our honesty like this unnamed woman in Mark 5.

Don’t Be Afraid; Just Believe (v. 36)

Can we all agree that Jesus is not telling this father who just received the news that his daughter was dead to be unmoved?  This is not Jesus advocating that faith in God will make any unpleasant emotion unnecessary or wrong.

I do believe we can find an important distinction between sinful and sacred fear in this passage.  The difference is not the emotional sensation (i.e., increased heart rate, rapid paced thinking, tears, sporadic questioning pattern, intense desire to find refuge, etc…).  The distinction is the presence or absence of hope.

Jesus is not saying be calm, chill out, or relax.  Jesus is saying maintain hope, don’t lose sight of me, and remember I am still active in your life.

As we weigh our emotions, this criterion of hope is one of the primary measures we should use to determine the virtue of sinfulness of an emotion (pleasant or unpleasant).  If an emotion actively hopes in God it is good and plays a significant role in our sanctification.  If an emotions ignores, attacks, or flees from God, then it is to be taken captive (2 Cor 9:3-6).

Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
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BLOG: “Teachers Equipping Ministers Through Prayer Time“

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Gaining Eyes to See — Mark 8

Demanding a Sign (v. 11)

The Pharisees reveal their blindness in that they ask for a sign immediately after Jesus has fed 4,000 people with seven loaves of bread.  Jesus openly displays his displeasure with an angry sigh.  Because they rejected Jesus’ identity (about to be discussed in v. 27-30) they cannot or will not see the miracles that are done in their presence.

We are not granted the option of partial or selective vision.  God does not allow us to choose what we do and do not agree with concerning His character and activity.  As we will see, verses 22-26 are an acted parable that we do receive progressive vision.  However, if we reject what God has done in our lives to us, we will not be able to accept the rest of what God has made known.

Reflection Questions:  What aspect of God’s character or activity in your life do you have the hardest time accepting?  Pray earnestly to God that He would grant you the grace to accept this truth.  Speak with a mature Christian friend or pastor about this struggle to ensure your thinking correctly about what you are trying to accept.  If need be, start with the prayer, “I believe.  Help my unbelief (Mark 9:24).

Do You Have Eyes But Fail to See?
(Click Here for Printable PDF Handout)

Don’t you feel sorry for the disciples?  They doubt the bread and God does a miracle.  They start thinking about bread and miss the point of the miracle.  They could answer all the factual questions, but missed the question of relevance.  Why?  They did not yet understand who Jesus was or what He was up to.  This impeded their ability get the significance of all they were blessed to experience.

That raises a very relevant question for us, “Do we understand who Jesus is and what He is up to in our lives?”  If not, even the grandest works of God in our lives will be misunderstood.  We may be able to answer many factual questions and be willing to give God credit for it all.  However, we would still be missing the point.

As you seek to make sense of Christ, consider these foundational truths about His work in our lives.

• Jesus came to glorify the Father and everything He does is for that purpose (John 17:1).
• Jesus is willing to sacrifice greatly for our benefit (John 3:16).
• Jesus expects us to find joy by being sacrificial people (Mark 8:34-38).
• Jesus knows that lasting joy is only found in holy character (Matt 5:48)
• Jesus does not promise to remove suffering (Matt 5:11-12).
• Jesus works in the midst of suffering (Matt 5:43-47).
• Jesus hates suffering even when it is produces great good (Matt 26:38-39).
• Jesus is not soft on those who inflict suffering (Mark 9:42).
• Jesus does not work on our time table (Mark 13:11).
• Jesus will not and does not leave us alone (John14:18, 26).
• Jesus has complete compassion and understanding of our circumstances (Heb :15).
• Jesus rewards those who are faithful (Rev 22:12-16)

If you are in a time when you feel blind to what God is doing, then take time to meditate on these truths about your Savior in light of your circumstances.  Pray with a humble, patient heart that God would show you His full character and activity.  Pray you would have eyes to see it.

Progressive Vision Restoration (v. 22-26)

Jesus performs this miracle in between His rebuke of the disciples regarding their spiritual blindness and their guessing towards His true identity as the long-awaited Messiah.  This is an acted parable of grace.  While we must accept who Christ is, our vision may be restored gradually so long as we do not defiantly resist what is made known.

This is truly Jesus stepping out of high usual pattern (instantaneous healing when He heals) to demonstrate His patience with our slow process of understanding.  Notice in the next verses the disciple’s eyes are opened to Jesus identity as the Messiah as slowly as this blind man’s site was restored.

Balanced View of God: The disgust Jesus demonstrated with the Pharisees in verse 12 does not carry over to the blind man or the disciples.  Both experience spiritual blindness.  The Pharisees were willfully blind.  The disciples were blind from fear or confusion. Notice that Jesus does not respond to them on the basis of their condition (blindness) but on the condition of their heart (hard or humble).  Let this be a comfort to you.

Blog Resource: “Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me” applied to marital communication.

Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
TOOL: “Using Prayer Time to Cultivate Ministry”
BLOG: “Teachers Equipping Ministers Through Prayer Time“

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Five Loaves, Two Fish, A Walk on the Water & One Message — Mark 6

He Had Compassion on Them (v. 34)

Context makes this phrase amazing.  Jesus was hungry and exhausted; so were His disciples (v. 31).  They tried to get away for rest (a good model for us to follow as well).  In His time of rest needy people found Jesus.  Unlike us, Jesus saw them.  More than He saw His fatigue, He saw their lostness.  They were “sheep without a shepherd (v. 34).”

Reflective Questions: What physical need or relational desire do you get least and crave most?  When, how, or with whom does this frequently make you blind to ministry opportunities?  Do you intentionally plan times to fulfill these longings so that you are not so famished that your cravings further blind you?  Should your first action step be one of fasting (to put to death self-centeredness) or resting (to care for the body and life God has given you)?

A Model Testimony By Omission
(Click Here for Printable PDF Handout)

Take a moment and compare the account of Jesus walking on the water after feeding the 5,000 in Matthew 14 with the account in Mark 6.  Do you see one major omission? Mark leaves out the fact that Peter also walked on the water.  That is significant because Mark’s Gospel comes from the preaching of Peter to the church at Rome.

What are we to make of this?  Should we never reference ourselves or significant events when giving our testimony or sharing the Gospel? That would be a bit extreme.  After all, Peter is a major character in the Gospel of Mark.

I think a more accurate point would be we should not speak (or speak less) of ourselves when it distracts from the message of Christ.  Peter acknowledges that he left a successful fishing business to follow Christ (Mark 1:16-18), because that highlights that Jesus was worth it!  Peter omits his walking on water because people would want him to prove it or get his autograph and miss that Jesus was Lord of all Creation.

Consider the following questions as you seek to prepare yourself to give your testimony in a way that brings the most glory to Christ.

• What were you like before your conversion?  What things were most important to you?  How did you spend your time?  How did you reward yourself?  What was the best of all possible days?
• When you accepted Christ what was it that convicted you of your sin?  What made you realize that Jesus was the only remedy for your guilt?
• What things changed immediately in your character, behavior, language, relationships, or values?  What things resisted change?
• What have been some of the more significant moments in your Christian maturity?  How has God changed you in ways you would have never expected?  What circumstances, people, or passages of Scripture were most prominent in your process of change?
• What were some of the good things that God has done that (in the moment) you completely missed or did not like at the time?  How do you see God’s patience, kindness, and even sense of humor in this process?

I hope these questions guide you to tell your story with God as the main character and that these moments of reflection have made your more comfortable sharing your story with others.

They Were Amazed…Their Hearts Were Hard (v. 51-52)

Is it just me, or do these two phrases not belong together?  The disciples experienced a great miracle (one even participated in it), they are amazed at the power of God in Christ, but they didn’t get it because their hearts were hard.  If nothing else this verse should give us pause to saying (or thinking) “I understand” or “I know how I hurt you” when someone speaks or we are reading a familiar passage of Scripture.  Too often these responses are instinctuous pride responses that reveal a hard unreceptive heart.

Another question worth examining is, “What did the disciples miss?”  They missed the implication of feeding 5,000 people with 5 fish and 2 loaves.  If Jesus can do that, then the laws of nature are subject to Him.  Might they have been able to answer a theology quiz if given time to use deductive reasoning?  Sure.  But when life happened (in the form of a storm), they were amazed (read shocked/surprised more than worshipful celebration).

One final observation, Jesus did not condemn them for their hard hearts (v. 50, Jesus comforted them).  Jesus was teaching them.  If they did not lack understanding and faith, His presence would not be needed.  This is something we must remember with those we teach and shepherd (particularly our children).  If they did not lack maturity, discipline, understanding, or “common sense” they would not need parents, teachers, supervisors, or pastors.

Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
TOOL: “Using Prayer Time to Cultivate Ministry”
BLOG: “Teachers Equipping Ministers Through Prayer Time“

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Three “Seed” Messages (Salvation, Evangelism, & Faith) — Mark 4

Seeds Reveal Our Response in Salvation
(Click Here for Printable PDF Handout)

“What must I do to be saved?” asked the jailer in Acts 16:30.  Paul replied simply, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved (Acts 16:31).”  In the parable of the sower, Jesus expands upon Paul’s answer.  Below are the four responses we can have to the Gospel and the adversary most prone to disrupt the growth of the Gospel in the soil of our heart (given in parentheses).

The Path: (Satan) This person does not pay attention, retain, or value the Gospel when it is presented.  Satan’s work is to not let the seed sit long enough to sprout.  The application for this person is to listen and be willing to consider eternal things—things heavenly seem insignificant compared to things earthly.  The battle is one of attention span and embracing conviction.

Rocky Soil: (Trouble or Persecution) This person is attentive and celebrates the goodness of God’s conviction.  Yet for this person earthly things (although initially viewed as less significant than things heavenly) like trouble and persecution distract and drown out things eternal.  The lack of roots – discipleship and involvement within a local church community – make it too difficult to weather this heat and they wither.

Thorn Soil: (Worry, Success, & Desire) This person weathers trouble and persecution with reliance upon and understanding of God’s Word in a context of Christian community.  Yet God’s blessings become their demise.  Worries concerning the family, health, finances, and dreams God blessed them with cause them to take their life back into their own hands.  God gives them the desires of their heart and then they choose the desires of their heart over God.

Good Soil: (Fruit) This person is content to be a fruit producer.  They value things eternal, weather persecution, experience God’s blessing, but maintain their primary identity as laborer/citizen of God’s kingdom.  Because God’s blessings did not become their measure of worth (the yield of the crop fluctuates), they could take joy in what they were allowed to contribute to and avoid getting lost in various self-preoccupations.

I pray you are able to use this sheet to take a “soil test” of your life now and to trace your own Christian journey.

Seeds and the Role of the Evangelist (v. 26-29)

Confusion is a common reason for avoiding evangelism.  We are not sure how it works, so we don’t know if we have done it right and we sure do not want to foul up someone’s eternal destiny.  Jesus says we need not understand how sharing the gospel penetrates a stony, hard heart to bring life from death anymore than a farmer needs to hold a Masters degree in biology to understand how dry and wet dirt combine to produce fruit.

The farmer has one task and that task is not professor, it is sower.  Similarly, the Christian sharing his/her faith has one task and that task is not theologian, but witness.  It may be helpful for many to consider that the same faith with which we share the gospel (somewhat fearful and uncertain of how it will work) is the same faith with which an unbeliever receives the gospel.  In this the Christian models what he/she is asking of the unbeliever while asking them to respond.

If we had to understand more in evangelism than the farmer does in sowing, then our faith would not be in the grace of God and work of Christ but in the system we presented.  If we know that we are sinful and that Christ as our substitute is our only hope, then let us sow and be amazed whenever and however the harvest comes.

Seeds and the Impact of Faith (v. 30-32)

“God is doing something large and my life, my abilities, my understanding, or my available time is so small.  There has to be a problem.”  Have you ever thought something like this?  Jesus replies, “That’s the point!  That is what my kingdom is all about.”

A major question that this parable raises is, “Where do you find your security?”  What is it that you think you should offer God that would make your contribution to His kingdom significant?  Those are the very things that fuel our insecurities and hinder the activity of God’s kingdom in our lives.

In light of this thought, read I Corinthians 1:18-31 for another picture of God’s kingdom and the normal object of our security.  Our chief mission in life is to bring God glory.  When we have done that we have done the highest thing a human (or any other part of creation) can do.  Any largeness on our part gets in the way.  When God makes great bushes (does awesome works that blesses others—“birds of the air perch”) with small seeds (ordinary folks) then God gets the total glory.  The seed is secure throughout the entire process because it was only concerned with its mission (glorifying God) and gets to be the “largest of all garden plant” in the end (which still may not be a Giant Redwood Tree).

Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
TOOL: “Using Prayer Time to Cultivate Ministry”
BLOG: “Teachers Equipping Ministers Through Prayer Time“

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